Portable putter teaching aid

ABSTRACT

An apparatus which can be attached or removed from a blade style putter as a teaching aid. The apparatus comprises a bracket member for engagement with such putter. The bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion and at least two substantially vertical portions engageable with each end of the substantially horizontal portion. There is a sphere member or a cone member. A portion of the sphere member or cone member is engageable with an end of the first one of the at least two substantially vertical portions of the bracket member. Another portion of the sphere member or cone member is engageable with a face of such putter while a radially opposed outer surface of the sphere member or cone member contacts a golf ball in a putting stroke. There is also a securing means engageable with a second substantially vertical portion of the bracket member and with a back side portion of such face of such putter for securing the bracket to such putter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/652,940 filed Feb. 15, 2005.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus for use as a golf teaching tool, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a an apparatus that attaches to an individual's putter to help a golfer with proper alignment and a proper putting stroke for striking the ball accurately.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is a difficult game to master requiring a great deal of practice time in order to become proficient in the game. Various teaching aids are available to help a golfer groove his or her swing or to help eliminate faults such as a slice or a hook.

There are many items that are available in today's market for helping a person practice golf strokes. There are weighted clubs that are intended to help a golfer's swing. Also there are clubs with a collapsible portion which if the golfer's swing is not correct the club collapses during the swing. However, if the swing is uniform the club remains intact. Other teaching aids and new club designs are constantly on the market to help a golfer with what is referred to as the short game which includes chipping and putting.

Also, there are a wide variety of putters that are sold on the market with such diverse shapes as blade putters, mallet putters, and almost any shape imaginable to help a golfer with his putting. Many of these putters have lines on the putter head to help the golfer with alignment of the putter and determining the line the ball will follow. All of these aids can be quite useful but one of the most important items in putting or swinging a golf club is that the ball must be struck correctly with the sweet spot of the club or the putter. Unless this is accomplished the aids may not give the golfer his desired result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus which can easily be attached or removed from a blade style putter as a teaching aid. The apparatus comprises a bracket member for engagement with such putter. The bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion and at least two substantially vertical portions engageable with each end of the substantially horizontal portion. There is one of a sphere member or a cone member. A portion of the sphere member or cone member is engageable with an end of the first one of the at least two substantially vertical portions of the bracket member. Another portion of the sphere member or cone member is engageable with a face of such putter while a radially opposed outer surface of the sphere member or cone member contacts a golf ball in a putting stroke. There is also a securing means engageable with a second one of the at least two substantially vertical portions of the bracket member and with a back side portion of such face of such putter for securing the bracket to such putter.

An alternate embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for removable attachment with a mallet style putter as a teaching aid. The apparatus comprises a first bracket member for engagement with such mallet style putter. The first bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion engageable with a first end of the substantially horizontal portion. There is a second bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion for sliding engagement with the substantially horizontal portion of the first bracket member and at least one descending portion, having a predetermined shape, for engagement with a rear portion of such mallet style putter for securing the apparatus to such putter. Also there is one of a sphere member or a cone member, a portion of such sphere member or cone member is engageable with an end of the at least one substantially vertical portion of the first bracket member and another portion of the sphere member or cone member is engageable with a face of such putter while a radially opposed outer surface of the sphere member or cone member contacts a golf ball in a putting stroke. The apparatus also provides a securing means engageable with the substantially horizontal portion of the first bracket member and the substantially horizontal portion of the second bracket member for securing the first bracket member to the second bracket member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus attachable to an individual's putter as a teaching aid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which uses a sphere or a vertex of a cone to strike the ball in a putting stroke.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus as a teaching aid which can be used with blade or mallet style putters.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus as a teaching aid for putting which is portable.

Another object of the present invention provides an apparatus as a teaching aid for putting which is easily attached and removed from a putter.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus as a teaching aid for putting which provides a narrower putting surface.

Still it is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus as a teaching aid for putting which has an alignment aid on the top of the apparatus.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a blade style putter with an embodiment of the invention attached.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a blade style putter with an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 attached.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a blade style putter with an alternate embodiment of the invention attached.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a blade style putter showing an alignment aid on the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a mallet style putter with an embodiment of the invention attached.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a mallet style putter with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 attached.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a mallet style putter with an alternate embodiment of the invention attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

Illustrated in the drawing figures is an apparatus, generally designated 10, for use with an individual's putter as a teaching aid. The apparatus is usable with a blade putter or a mallet style putter.

A first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is the apparatus 10 for use with a blade style putter. In this context such blade style putters encompasses most putters which do not have a mallet shape. The apparatus 10 is easily attached and removed from a putter. The apparatus 10 comprises a bracket member, generally designated 20, for engagement with such putter 2. The bracket member 20 has a substantially horizontal portion 4 and at least two substantially vertical portions 6,8 engageable with each end of the substantially horizontal portion 4.

The apparatus 10 includes a sphere member 12 or a cone member 14. A portion of the sphere member 12 or the cone member 14 is engageable with an end of a first one of the two substantially vertical portions 6 of the bracket member 20. Another portion of the sphere member 12 or the cone member 14 is engageable with a face 16 of such putter 2 while a radially opposed outer surface of the sphere member 12 or the cone member 14 is for contacting a golf ball in a putting stroke.

There is a securing means, generally designated 30, that engages a second substantially vertical portion 8 of the bracket member 20 and with a back side portion 18 of such face 16 of such putter 2 for securing the bracket 20 to such putter 2.

The apparatus 10 further includes a stability screw 22 for engagement with a middle portion of substantially horizontal portion 4 of the bracket member 20 and with a top of such blade style putter 2 for providing stability for the apparatus 20. It is presently preferred that such securing means 30 includes a thumb screw 24. Such thumb screw 24 makes it easy to assemble and disassemble such apparatus 10 on a putter 2 without thew need of tools.

It is further preferred that such thumb screw 24 includes a rubber tip 26 for engagement with such back portion 18 of such face 16 of such blade style putter 2.

It is also presently preferred that such sphere member 12 or such cone member 14 are fixidly mounted on the end of the first substantially vertical portion 6 of the bracket member 20.

When such apparatus 10 is mounted on the putter 2 an arcuate portion of the sphere member 12 or the flat portion of the cone member 14 abut the such face 16 of the putter 2, while a radially opposed arcuate portion of the sphere 12 and the vertex portion 28 of the cone member 14 are used to strike the golf ball in putting practice. In doing so a much narrower surface is used to strike the ball in putting practice than with the regular putter face, which essentially reduces the forgiveness of the putting stroke's accuracy. Thus, if a golfer practices with this apparatus 10 and becomes adept at putting and striking the ball in this manner the chances of any mishits when the golfer strikes the ball with the face of the club are greatly lessened and the putting proficiency should be greatly improved.

To aid the golfer in his practice still further the apparatus 10 includes an alignment aid 32 disposed on an upper surface of substantially horizontal portion 4 of the bracket member 20. The alignment aid 32 is essentially a straight white line which extends from the leading edge of the apparatus 10, backward and past the face 16 of the putter which helps in aligning the blade 16 of the putter with the line that such golfer would like the ball to follow.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 is an alternate embodiment of the invention which provides an apparatus, generally designated 50, for removable attachment with a mallet style putter 52 as a teaching aid. The apparatus 50 comprises a first bracket member 54 for engagement with such mallet style putter 52. The first bracket member 54 has a substantially horizontal portion 56 and a substantially vertical portion 58 engageable with a first end of the substantially horizontal portion 56. There is a second bracket member 62 having a substantially horizontal portion 64 for sliding engagement with the substantially horizontal portion 56 of the first bracket member 54 and at least one descending portion 66 having a predetermined shape. The descending portion 66 engages the rear portion 72 of such mallet style putter 52 for securing the apparatus 50 to such putter 52. Similar to the other embodiment there is a sphere member 12 or a cone member 14. A portion of the sphere member 12 or the cone member 14 are engageable with an end of the substantially vertical portion 58 of the first bracket member 54 and another portion of the sphere member 12 or the cone member 14 are engageable with a face 74 of such putter 52, while a radially opposed outer surface of the sphere member 12 and the cone member 14 is used for contacting a golf ball in a putting stroke.

The apparatus 50 further includes a securing means, generally designated 60, that is engageable with the substantially horizontal portion 56 of the first bracket member 54 and the substantially horizontal portion 64 of the second bracket member 62 for securing the first bracket member 54 to the second bracket member 62.

It is presently preferred that such second bracket member 62 has two descending portions 66 and that such descending portions are formed in the shape of a Y from the substantially horizontal portion 64 of the second bracket member 62. This is readily seen in FIG. 5. It is also preferred that the predetermined shape of such descending portion 66 includes a substantially vertical portion 82 at an end of the descending portion 66 for engagement with such back portion 72 of such mallet putter 52.

The Y-shape of such descending portion 66 of second bracket member 62 provides a much more stable arrangement for securing the apparatus 50 to such mallet style putter 52. Because the back of most mallet style putters are arcuate there is less chance of the apparatus 50 moving at all during a putting stroke when such apparatus 50 is secured in this manner. Thus, the Y-shape portion of the second bracket member 62 is set up to engage the back of the mallet putter and then the second bracket member is secured to such first bracket member by sliding such second bracket member forward through such slot 85 disposed in the first bracket member so that the connections with the putter are tight and then the thumb screw 84 is tightened so as to secure the apparatus 50 so that it will not move during the putting stroke.

Similar to the embodiment with the blade style putters it is preferred that such sphere member 12 or such cone member 14 are fixidly mounted on the end of the substantially vertical portion 58 of the first bracket member 54. Also an alignment aid 32, similar to that used in the other embodiment, is disposed on the surface of such first bracket member 54.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention such securing means 60 for securing the first bracket member 54 to the second bracket member 62 includes a thumb screw 84. It is also preferred that such first bracket member 54 and second bracket member 62 have a sliding relationship with each other as is seen in FIG. 5 so that such second bracket member can slide forward or backward via such slot 85 in the horizontal portion of the first bracket member so as to allow for differences is sizes of such mallet style putters making such securing means 60 for securing the first bracket member 54 to the second bracket member 62 adjustable so as to be able to make slight adjustments to second bracket member 62 to enable such apparatus 10 to accommodate different size mallet putters.

Thus, the Y-shape portion of the second bracket member 62 is set up to engage the back of the mallet putter and then the second bracket member 62 is secured to such first bracket member 54 by sliding such second bracket member forward so that the connections with the putter are tight and then the thumb screw 84 is tightened so as to secure the apparatus 50 so that it will not move during the putting stroke.

While both the presently preferred and a number of alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other adaptations and modifications of the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who are skilled in the relevant art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for removable attachment to a blade style putter as a teaching aid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a bracket member for engagement with such putter, said bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion and at least two substantially vertical portions engageable with each end of said substantially horizontal portion; (b) one of a sphere member and a cone member, a portion of said one of said sphere member and said cone member engageable with an end of a first one of said at least two substantially vertical portions of said bracket member and another portion of said one of said sphere member and said cone member engageable with a face of such putter, a radially opposed outer surface of said one of said sphere member and said cone member for contacting a golf ball in a putting stroke; and (c) a securing means engageable with a second one of said at least two substantially vertical portions of said bracket member and with a back side portion of such face of such putter for securing said bracket to such putter.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a stability screw for engagement with a middle portion of said substantially horizontal portion of said bracket member and with a top of such blade style putter for providing stability for said apparatus.
 3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said securing means includes a thumb screw.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said thumb screw further includes a rubber tip for engagement with such back portion of such face of such blade style putter.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said one of said sphere member and said cone member are fixidly mounted on said end of said first one of said at least two substantially vertical portions of said bracket member.
 6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein an arcuate portion of said sphere member and a flat portion of said cone member abut such face of such blade putter.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein a radially opposed portion of said sphere and a vertex portion of said cone are used to strike a golf ball in putting.
 8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said substantially horizontal portion of said bracket member further includes an alignment aid disposed on an upper surface of said substantially horizontal portion of said bracket member.
 9. An apparatus for removable attachment to a mallet style putter as a teaching aid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a first bracket member for engagement with such mallet style putter, said bracket member having a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion engageable with a first end of said substantially horizontal portion; (b) a second bracket and having a substantially horizontal portion for sliding engagement with said substantially horizontal portion of said first bracket member and at least one descending portion having a predetermined shape for engagement with a rear portion of such mallet style putter for securing said apparatus to such putter; (c) one of a sphere member and a cone member, a portion of one of a sphere member and a cone member engageable with an end of said at least one substantially vertical portion of said first bracket member and another portion of said one of a sphere member and a cone member engageable with a face of such putter, a radially opposed outer surface of said one of said sphere member and said cone member for contacting a golf ball in a putting stroke; and (d) a securing means engageable with said substantially horizontal portion of said first bracket member and said substantially horizontal portion of said second bracket member for securing said first bracket member to said second bracket member.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined shape of said at least one descending portion includes a substantially vertical portion at an end of said at least one descending portion for engagement with such back portion of said mallet putter.
 11. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said second bracket member has two descending portions.
 12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said two descending portions are formed in a Y shape from said substantially horizontal portion of said second bracket member.
 13. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined shape of said two descending portions include a substantially vertical portion at an end of said two descending portions for engagement with such back portion of said mallet putter.
 14. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said one of said sphere member and said cone member are fixidly mounted on said end of said at least one substantially vertical portion of said first bracket member.
 15. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said securing means includes a thumb screw.
 16. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said second bracket member being slidingly engageable with said first bracket member permits adjustment of a length of said second bracket member to accommodate different size mallet putters.
 17. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said first bracket member has a slot disposed on said substantially horizontal portion for sliding engagement with said second bracket member and with said securing means so as to permit adjustment of a length of said second bracket member to accommodate different size mallet putters. 